Management of human resources

The department’s human resource management is built upon a principle-based framework supported by polices and comprehensive intranet-based operational procedures, Managing Our People, strategies, programs and initiatives.

Human resources information relating to the department is required to be reported to the Commissioner of Public Employment and is available on the Office of the Public Sector website at: http://publicsector.sa.gov.au/. Some information is also reported below.

Workforce diversity

The chart and table below shows the number of employees by age bracket and gender.

*Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics Australian Demographic Statistics, 6291.0.55.001 Labour Force Status (ST LM8) by sex, age, state, marital status – employed – total from Feb78 SuperTABLE, South Australia at November 2013

Workforce adaptation

The chart and table below shows the number of employees with disabilities (according to Commonwealth DDA definition).

NOTE: Employees self identify and therefore not all employees with a disability may be reflected.

The chart and table below shows the types of disability (where specified).

NOTE: An employee may report more than one type of disability.

Executives

The chart and table below shows executives by gender, classification and status.

Leave management

The chart and table below shows average leave in days per full time equivalent employee.

Performance development

The chart and table below shows performance development information.

Leadership and management development

The chart and table below shows leadership and management training expenditure.

Employment opportunity programs

The department employed people through the following public sector-wide equal employment opportunity programs during 2014–15:

• South Australian Government Jobs4Youth program and the Trainee Employment Register
• Aboriginal Public Sector Program (includes the Aboriginal Employment Register)
• Strategy for employment of people with disabilities (includes the Disability Employment Register and participation in the Change @ SA Program; Increasing Sector Employment of People with a Disability).

Work health and safety and injury management

The Safety and Wellbeing in the Public Sector 2010-2015 strategy embeds the Premier’s Zero Harm Vision and underpins the South Australian Strategic Plan Target 21: Greater Safety at Work.

Safety is the centre of everything we do in the department and the health and wellbeing of our workforce is a key priority. The Chief Executive and senior leaders are committed to reducing the impact of workplace injuries and illnesses on employees and the community. The department continues to work towards creating a culture that is safety and health conscious and protects the physical and psychological wellbeing of all employees through the demonstration of our departmental values of Collaboration, Honesty, Excellence, Enjoyment and Respect.

Training on the responsibilities of Officers under the Work Health and Safety Act 2012 was provided during the year to strengthen the knowledge of these senior leaders. This was part of the department’s ongoing focus on improving risk management practices in order to identify hazards, reduce safety related incidents and improve the health and safety of the workforce.

The department’s performance against the Safety and Wellbeing in the Public Sector 2010-2015 strategy and performance targets has been regularly monitored and evaluated throughout the year, with reports provided to all executives on a quarterly basis. During this time, the department met the majority of these targets on a regular basis however it is acknowledged that there are still significant improvements that need to be made in regard to its performance. The implementation of the 2015-2020 WHS Strategic plan, aligning the department’s values and performance targets with key national and state initiatives will assist in driving the continuous improvement as we strive to achieve our zero harm vision.

Regular consultation and communication on health and safety matters has continued through quarterly meetings of the departmental Work Health and Safety Consultation and Communication Committee, which includes both employee and management representatives from across the department.

The chart and table below shows Work Health and Safety Prosecutions, Notices and Corrective Action taken.

During 2014-15 a number of incidents were notified to SafeWork SA pursuant to part 3 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2012.

Of the incidents that were reported, 3 (including 1 involving a contractor) at departmental worksites required further investigation to improve safety compliance. Of the other 5 incidents, 4 were dangerous occurrences with no injuries and one was a personal illness.

One improvement notice was served during the year, which related to storm water ingress in a left well at the Tea Tree Plaza Interchange. This incident was investigated and permanent measures put in place to prevent any future flooding.

The chart and table below shows Agency gross workers compensation expenditure for 2014-15 compared with 2013-14.